To Reduce the Spread of COVID-19, Equal and Fair Vaccination is the Key to Success

Kapanlagi.com - The pandemic that has been going on for more than a year must be immediately controlled to prevent the risk of a high transmission wave. This was emphasized directly by President Joko Widodo, who said that vaccination must be felt evenly and equally throughout the world.

In line with this statement, the equal distribution of vaccination in the country must be intensified to ensure that every citizen is maximally protected. The progress in handling COVID-19 was conveyed by the Ambassador of New Habit Adaptation, Dr. Reisa Broto Asmoro, through a press release broadcasted at the Media Center Forum Merdeka Barat 9 (FMB 9) - COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee (KPC-PEN), Friday (29/10/2021).

Dr. Reisa mentioned that there has been progress in handling COVID-19 in the country. On October 28, 2021, the daily number of cases in Indonesia was recorded to be less than 100 cases per day. Moreover, since October 15, 2021, the daily confirmations have been recorded below 1,000 cases.

Decrease in Transmission Cases and Death Rate

According to Dr. Reisa, the overall weekly trend of new cases has decreased by 23%. Meanwhile, the death toll has decreased by 16% compared to the previous week. In addition, active cases in Indonesia are now below 1%.

In the midst of these positive developments, the Government Spokesperson for COVID-19 reminds that there is still a surge in cases in several countries around the world. The Indonesian people, as part of the global community, must remain concerned and pray for the situation in other countries to improve. He emphasizes that the pandemic in Indonesia will only end if the pandemic worldwide also stops.

“As we believe that freedom is the right of all nations, freedom from the COVID-19 pandemic is the right of all citizens of the world,” said Reisa firmly.

Recover Together, Recover Stronger

As the Chair of the G-20 for the next year, President Joko Widodo will proclaim the call to Recover Together, Recover Stronger or 'Recover Together, Recover Stronger'. The President invites all developed countries to work together to ensure equal access to the COVID-19 vaccine and to fight COVID-19 together, by ensuring that care and prevention are carried out by all.

Reisa also explained that the government continues to prioritize the elderly to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The government continues to encourage local governments and the Indonesian National Armed Forces/Police to evaluate vaccination for the elderly in their respective regions, and to find the appropriate approach to the elderly in each area.

“We must remember that the elderly group has a risk factor up to 60 times heavier than the younger age group. Therefore, the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) is making efforts to bring vaccination services closer to the elderly group,” said Reisa.

For this reason, the government continues to add vaccination centers throughout the country. Family members are also asked to be more proactive in providing understanding to parents and elderly family members so that they are willing to immediately get vaccinated.

Reisa reminded that out of 21.5 million elderly people, less than 40% of them have received the first vaccine injection. Meanwhile, the elderly who have received the complete dose is still less than a quarter of the target vaccination number.

This needs to be a shared concern, because the elderly group is still at risk of contracting COVID-19 and can suffer from severe symptoms, even long COVID or post COVID syndrome.

Dr. Reisa also invites the public to increase the overall vaccination coverage, which has now reached nearly 60% of the first doses and nearly 40% of the second doses.

“To ensure that we are all safe. Because no one is safe until everyone is safe. No one is safe until everyone is safe,” Reisa concluded.

(kpl/jef)